Hindu Wedding Rituals and their Importance - Part I

We Indians enjoy attending, hosting and celebrating weddings – right from the initial meetings of the two families to the departure of the couple for their sweet honeymoon. A Hindu Indian Wedding usually takes place across three to seven days, with myriad ceremonies- whether you call them rasams, rituals or traditions. When Vedas are world renowned for Vedic Science, why not throw some light on the importance of wedding rituals?

Engagement Ceremony: Will you be my wife/husband?

Also known as a “betrothal” world over, this signifies the  journey towards a better future. It involves exchanging  promise rings and  thus it is also known as the “ring ceremony”. In many cultures,  this follows by draping the  bride-to-be with a traditional duppatta or dress, which is  known as “chunni chadhana”. Choreographed  dances are performed, cakes are cut and confetti fills the room. Towards the end, gifts are exchanged between two families, as they set out on the journey to become ‘relatives’.

Mehendi rasam: The smell of henna and love

The aromatic smell of henna paste is intoxicating. During mehendi rasam, intricate designs are drawn over the hands and the legs of the bride. It is said that the bride is not to do any chores till the mehendi colour wears off. Another popular belief tries to establish a correlation between the colour of leaves and love: more love leads to darker mehendi. Contact our Surrey Wedding Vendors to etch the perfect bridal mehendi.

Sangeet: Songs, dance and merriment

Originally, the sangeet ceremony involved the women of the house getting together to sing folksy, traditional songs. Nowadays, the opulent ceremony has evolved and high tech sound systems and DJs have come into picture. The two families get together to have a party; and food and spirits (that of music and drinks) flow freely. Many a times, an MC, also known as the Master of Ceremony, is hired to up the fun  factor.

Haldi Ceremony: Age-old Indian spa ceremony!

Turmeric gets a special spot in Indian cuisine as well as culture because of its medicinal and anti-inflammatory properties. Before the big day, relatives of the bride and the groom get together in their respective homes. They vigorously apply a paste of turmeric (haldi), gram flour (besan) and milk on the face and hands of the young couple to make their skin radiant. In the background, regional songs  are sung.

Read about other interesting Hindu wedding rituals in part two and part three! For more insights and inspirations for Indian weddings check our wedding blog regularly.